Kendle further expands Asia-Pacific presence
The new offices, which are in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila, will focus on providing contract research services for the region’s biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing sector.
Ross Horsburgh, vice president of Kendle’s global clinical development operations explained that: “With more than half of the world’s population, Asia offers an abundance of patients in nearly every therapeutic area.”
He went on to say that: “Governments have highlighted biopharmaceutical development as a key pillar to their economies, resulting in much more favourable environments for global clinical development work.”
According a recent study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development 65 per cent of all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated trials will take place outside the US, with a significant proportion being carried out in Asia.
Recognition of this trend coupled with an increasing awareness of the importance of local knowledge has seen a number of US contract research organisations (CRO), most recently Covance and PRA, invest in the region.
Cost of trials
While the potential of the Asian trial market is clearly a motivation for Kendle building its presence in the region, the cost savings provided by the region are also a factor.
In Q1, the firm reported a 45 per cent project cancellation rate, cut its 2009 earnings expectations and said that it was examining ways of reducing costs, including expanding it network in Asia.
